Cost of Living Comparison Between Squamish, BC and Vancouver Cost of Living Comparison Between Squamish, BC and Vancouver

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,745 in Squamish, BC versus $2,906 in Vancouver.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,106 in Squamish, BC versus $4,209 in Vancouver.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,467 in Squamish, BC versus $5,513 in Vancouver.

Living in Squamish, BC costs roughly 6% less than in Vancouver, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Squamish, BC 105% above, Vancouver 118% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.18 CA$21.29

$18.62 CA$26.10

-18.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.8 CA$103

$77.9 CA$109

-5.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.02 CA$15.45

$10.84 CA$15.20

1.66%

Cappuccino

$4.24 CA$5.94

$3.93 CA$5.51

7.89%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 CA$2.84

$2.24 CA$3.15

-9.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.44 CA$2.01

$1.75 CA$2.45

-17.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.94 CA$8.33

$6.05 CA$8.48

-1.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.85 CA$8.20

$7.30 CA$10.23

-19.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 CA$2.56

$2.30 CA$3.23

-20.87%

White Bread (500g)

$2.65 CA$3.72

$3.07 CA$4.31

-13.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.77 CA$5.29

$3.77 CA$5.28

Eggs

$3.63 CA$5.10

$4.32 CA$6.06

-15.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.36 CA$14.52

$12.57 CA$17.63

-17.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.71 CA$16.42

$13.74 CA$19.27

-14.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.21 CA$28.34

$15.99 CA$22.41

26.39%

Apples (1kg)

$3.37 CA$4.73

$4.26 CA$5.98

-20.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 CA$1.70

$1.52 CA$2.13

-20.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.99 CA$4.20

$3.92 CA$5.50

-23.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.36 CA$4.71

$5.08 CA$7.13

-33.86%

Potato (1kg)

$2.35 CA$3.29

$3.20 CA$4.48

-26.56%

Onion (1kg)

$2.07 CA$2.90

$3.09 CA$4.33

-33.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.50 CA$3.51

$2.60 CA$3.64

-3.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 CA$2.70

$1.88 CA$2.64

2.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.46 CA$20.28

$15.45 CA$21.66

-6.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.54 CA$14.78

$14.89 CA$20.88

-29.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.01 CA$4.22

$3.12 CA$4.37

-3.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 CA$5.21

$3.80 CA$5.33

-2.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.50 CA$2.10

$2.42 CA$3.39

-38.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.24 CA$43.80

$83.0 CA$116

-62.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.71 CA$3.80

$3.76 CA$5.27

-27.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 CA$2.08

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.62 CA$40.13

$26.97 CA$37.81

6.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 CA$1.77

$1.30 CA$1.82

-3.08%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.3K CA$35.5K

$25.2K CA$35.3K

0.60%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.2K CA$28.3K

$20.6K CA$28.8K

-1.83%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$124 CA$174

$91.8 CA$129

35.13%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$41.80 CA$58.6

$39.34 CA$55.2

6.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.7 CA$93.5

$60.6 CA$85.0

10.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.1 CA$74.5

$44.58 CA$62.5

19.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.88 CA$22.27

Cinema Ticket

$12.47 CA$17.48

$12.18 CA$17.07

2.38%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,118 CA$1,567

$1,185 CA$1,661

-5.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.5K CA$17.6K

$18.5K CA$26.0K

-32.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.7 CA$78.1

$62.5 CA$87.6

-10.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.42 CA$62.3

$42.38 CA$59.4

4.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 CA$146

$95.0 CA$133

9.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.6 CA$131

$115 CA$161

-18.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,676 CA$2,349

$1,979 CA$2,775

-15.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,588 CA$2,226

$1,644 CA$2,304

-3.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,371 CA$4,726

$3,577 CA$5,015

-5.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,961 CA$4,152

$2,782 CA$3,901

6.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,834 CA$8,179

$8,754 CA$12.3K

-33.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,087 CA$9,936

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,067 CA$4,299

$3,380 CA$4,739

-9.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

5.61

16.58%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Squamish, BC: July 11, 2026

Last update for Vancouver: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,676 in Squamish, BC and $1,979 in Vancouver. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vancouver pays 10% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $74.0 in Squamish, BC vs $78.0 in Vancouver for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $365 vs $414 per month, with Squamish, BC cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Squamish, BC vs Vancouver: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Squamish, BC wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Vancouver. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Squamish, BC the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 10% lower in Vancouver. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,676 in Squamish, BC versus $1,979 in Vancouver. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,118 in Squamish, BC versus $1,185 in Vancouver. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 13% higher in Vancouver. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Squamish, BC is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Squamish, BC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Vancouver. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.